PA Gaming Control Board Key To Uncovering Alleged Slot Machine Cheating At the Meadows

Commonwealth Tax Collections Not Compromised

HARRISBURG: The diligent observation of an on-site Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board employee triggered the start of an investigation that led to the arrest of three men charged with the alleged theft of more than $420,000 from The Meadows Racetrack Casino in Washington County.

The charges filed Monday by Washington County District Attorney Steven M. Tropani were the culmination of a Pennsylvania State Police investigation that began when a PGCB Casino Compliance Representative observed and reported the potentially illegal actions.

In addition to the work of the PGCB’s on-site staff, representatives of the agency’s Gaming Laboratory and Auditing staff assisted the State police investigators.

Gaming Control Board Executive director Kevin O’Toole says it was the cooperative efforts of the State Police, District Attorney, Meadows staff and the PGCB that allowed this investigation and charges to come together.

“This level of cooperation is exactly what the citizens of Pennsylvania expect and the legislature envisioned in order to create safe environments at casinos and to keep crime from reoccurring,” O’Toole says.

Two western Pennsylvania legislators, State Senator J. Barry Stout (D-46) and State Representative Tim Solobay (D-48) agreed that such a partnership between law enforcement and those responsible for casino regulation worked well at The Meadows.

"I would like to commend the cooperation between the State Gaming Control Board, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Washington County District Attorney's Office and the owners and operators of the Meadows in uncovering this scandal. The work of all involved is a testament that the system works," stated Senator Stout.

"There's been a lot of unfair comments that the key gaming oversight agencies are not effectively working together to protect the safety of Pennsylvania citizens," says Solobay, "I hope this tremendous display of cooperation between the Gaming Control Board and State Police in helping local prosecutors catch the criminals responsible for allegedly stealing from The Meadows will finally dispel those assertions. Patrons of our casinos are well-served by the diligence of state oversight which make facilities like The Meadows a safe environment to spend time."

O’Toole adds that the alleged theft did not compromise the correct count of taxes due the Commonwealth and therefore no loss of tax revenue occurred.

NOTE: THE PRESS RELEASE AND GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT ISSUED BY THE WASHINGTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CAN BE ACCESSED AND DOWNLOADED AT THIS LINK:

http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/files/communications/20091007_Washington_County_DA_PR.pdf

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